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Advanced avionics equipment simulation

Final Report Summary - ADAVES (Advanced avionics equipment simulation)



Executive Summary:

The objective of the project is to develop a high fidelity and accurate GPS system simulation, capable of being seemly integrated in Green Regional Aircraft (GRA) flight simulator.

The development of a green Flight Management System (FMS) is an essential factor for integrating green technologies in GRA simulator and for achieving the following Clean Sky environmental goals:

- 50% reduction of CO2 emissions;
- 80% reduction of NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions;
- 50% reduction of external noise.

To support the green FMS system development, a GPS simulator shall be developed taking into consideration the navigation scenarios presented by both NextGen (EUA) and SESAR (UE) Master Plans.

These Roadmaps present the FMS increasingly relying on GNSS systems, in particular the current SESAR 2020 Navigation roadmap considers the following scenario:

- Primary aircraft positioning means will be satellite based for all flight phases;
- Positioning is expected to rely on a minimum of two dual frequency satellite constellations (Galileo, GPS L1/L5 and potentially other constellations, assuming interoperability) and augmentation as required:
- Aircraft based augmentation (ABAS) such as INS and multiple GNSS processing receiver;
- Satellite based augmentation (SBAS) such as EGNOS and WAAS.

And Beyond 2020:

- The availability of other constellations enables increased accuracy and availability. Multi constellation receivers are able to exploit available constellations/satellites (e.g. China, Russia),
- Ground based augmentation (GBAS) for Cat II/III approach and landing with backup provided by ILS/MLS

Project Context and Objectives:

Based on above description, the ADAVES project main goal is to support the green FMS system development, through the development of a GNSS receiver simulator and related GNSS constellation simulator. These both simulators will enable to infer how the available GNSS (even considering the set of error introduced by the different local effects and associated mitigations) will be an added value in the green FMS goal.

The ADAVES objectives are:

1. Simulator Specification including the interface definition with the GRA simulator shall be achieved at SRR.
2. Simulator Design and Receiver Prototype – that includes simulators design and the implementation of the interface between the receiver simulator and the GRA Simulator as well as the implementation of individual algorithms – shall be achieved at CDR.
3. GNSS Constellation Simulator – that produces GNSS navigation messages for each satellite belonging to the constellation considering the related errors in the same cadence of GNSS satellites.
4. GNSS Receiver Simulator – will have 3 modes of operations:
a. Single Position Receiver – computes the position considering only the position provided by the GRA Simulator.
b. White Noise Receiver – computes the position considering the position provided by the GRA Simulator and a white noise error.
c. GNSS Receiver – Computes the position considering the LoS satellites. All the local effects and associated mitigations will be considered.

Both Simulators will be integrated with the GRA Simulator and shall be qualified and accepted at QR.

Project Results:

ADAVES fulfilled all the objectives initially proposed:

1. The Simulator Specification including the interface definition with the GRA simulator was achieved at SRR.
2. The Simulator Design and Receiver Prototype –including simulators design and the implementation of the interface between the receiver simulator and the GRA Simulator as well as the implementation of individual algorithms – was achieved at CDR.
3. The GNSS Constellation Simulator was developed – that produces GNSS navigation messages for each satellite belonging to the constellation considering the related errors in the same cadence of GNSS satellites.
4. The GNSS Receiver Simulator was developed – have 3 modes of operations:
a. Single Position Receiver – computes the position considering only the position provided by the GRA Simulator.
b. White Noise Receiver – computes the position considering the position provided by the GRA Simulator and a white noise error.
c. GNSS Receiver – Computes the position considering the LoS satellites. All the local effects and associated mitigations will be considered.

The ADAVES Simulators were integrated with the GRA Simulator and accepted at QR.

Potential Impact:

IMPACT

Strategic Impact

ADAVES has an expected impact, to enable Clean Sky to demonstrate and validate the technology breakthroughs that are necessary to make major steps towards the environmental goals sets by ACARE – Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe – the European Technology Platform for Aeronautics & Air Transport and to be reached in 2020:

- 50% reduction of CO2 emissions through drastic reduction of fuel consumption;
- 80% reduction of NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions;
- 50% reduction of external noise;
- A green product life cycle: design, manufacturing, maintenance and disposal / recycling.

The 3 initial goals are all directly related with the development of a improved “Green” FMS, being the GNSS receiver the prime sensor for the FMS as per both SESAR and NExtGen Roadmaps.

Strategy for impact achievement

ADAVES project serves as the primordial tool for the development of a “green” FMS.

Through the use of the GNSS simulation infrastructure being developed as part of this project, it shall be possible to demonstrate the effectiveness of the “Green” FMS. And in particular, to access its performance against the expected aircraft navigation scenario evolution as foreseen by SESAR and NextGEN.

In order to achieve the expected impact, and being this project focused in providing a tool to support the “Green” FMS development it is mainly dependent on achieving the “Green” FMS achieving the proposed Clean Sky objectives.

European dimension

Air transport is an important sector in the EU economy. Studies show that industry accounts for approximately 2.5% of GDP, creates (directly and indirectly) over 3 million jobs, and contributes in excess of €30Bn to a positive trade balance for Europe.

Moreover, the indirect economic and social impact of the sector is even greater and more widespread.

Bases on projected growth, over the next twenty years, air transport could contribute an additional 1.8% of GDP to the EU (equivalent to €200Bn per year).

The Stern review recently published in the UK (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/stern_review_report.htm) has shown that the economic cost of inaction on the environment could be a reduction of global GDP by 20%. The report highlighted the need to support the development of a range of low carbon emission and high efficiency technologies on an urgent timescale.

In particular at a global level, 45% of today’s flights are operated with regional aircraft, and in 2020 this figure is estimated to rise to around 50%.

So the focus on the Green Regional Aircraft (GRA) ITD to validate and demonstrate the technologies best fitting the pollution and noise reduction goals and in particular the development of a “Green FMS” has a large potential positive effect at a European level.

Contribution to community societal objectives

Currently Aircraft emissions represent only 3% of greenhouse gases, but are growing fast and are perceived by the public as a problem, as such the EC has supported the launch of Clean Sky Joint Undertaking.

Anyway considering the Air transport industry large and disseminated impact across the European society, such as through direct and indirect jobs creation, goods transaction, person’s mobility and tourism industry support. Any pollution or noise reduction goals achievement as part of the GRA ITD, it shall have a direct impact on the European population quality of life, health and safety and the European environment.

Dissemination Activities and Explotation of Results:

The following activities were performed as part of the ADAVES dissemination activities and exploitation of results:

Submission of one Paper of ADAVES for the “International Conference on Localization and GNSS” (to be held in Torino) on the 25-27 June. Paper attached to this Final Report (09992001-130404-01.PP.pdf).

Presentation in the aerospace week 2013 organized by Associação Portuguesa de Aeronáutica e Espaço (APAE) and Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). ADAVES Presentation attached to this Final Report (EDISOFT- Space Systems_ADAVES.pdf).

Web page with information of ADAVES project in EDISFOT and FCUL corporate web sites:

- http://www.edisoft.pt/ - Direct link to the ADAVES Page http://www.empordef.pt/adaves.pdf
- http://www.fc.ul.pt/pt/pagina/5854/overview?refer=2 – Direct Link Slide 25.

List of Websites:

Project website: www.edisoft.pt/adaves.pdf

Contacts:

EDISOFT S.A.

http://www.edisoft.pt/
teresa.cardoso@edisoft.pt
luis.dias@edisoft.pt
alexandre.constantino@edisoft.pt
Tel.: +351 212 945 900

FCUL – Laboratory of Optics Lasers and Systems

http://www.fc.ul.pt/en/node/798
jafreitas@fc.ul.pt
elena.duarte@fc.ul.pt